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Kakapo are flightless parrots, particularly vulnerable to predators, and currently critically endangered. Their numbers have been decimated since first the Maori, then Europeans, settled in New Zealand. Settlement meant the birds were easily hunted, and exotic predatory species were introduced. However, efforts by various groups have gone a long way towards helping the kakapo and, while it is still critically endangered, its outlook is a bit more positive.
The birds are now protected by law, and to help preserve the species, the Kakapo Recovery Programme has been put into place. The Kakapo Recovery Programme is managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) which, under the "Wildlife Act 1953", has responsibility for caring for native species.
Because of predation by cats, dogs, stoats and kiore (polynesian rats), the remaining birds have been moved to offshore islands Under the Kakapo Recovery Programme. In 2014, they are now found only on Anchor Island, Codfish Island (Whenua Hou) and Little Barrier Island (Hauturu). These islands are essentially made up of thick bushland which is closest to the kakapo native habitat.
In addition, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, a major conservation group in New Zealand, not only actively promotes and assists the Kakapo Recovery Programme, but it also administers funds via the Threatened Species Trust.
Then there is the influential company Rio Tinto Alcan New Zealand Limited (RTANZ) which has committed to helping save the kakapo by working in partnership with both the Department of Conservation and the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.
In 1995, there were only 51 kakapo left. Thanks to the Kakapo Recovery Programme, figures in 2013 had reached 131. There are full time staff permanently enduring the primitive, cold conditions of the islands in order to help protect and preserve the birds.
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Which action would benefit the Kakapo the most?
the best action that would benefit the kakapo is to make donations to organizations that are trying to help it.
How can a kakapo use its camouflage to survive in its environment?
Animals use camouflage to either help them hide from predators, or to help them sneak up on prey unexpectedly. In the case of the kakapo, being a flightless, nocturnal parrot with very few ways to defend itself, it needs to remain hidden from predators. The kakapo's feathers are mottled green and yellow, which have similar colouring to leaves in the kakapo's habitat and allow the kakapo to blend in with its environment. When a kakapo senses a predator, its first instinct is to freeze. This, coupled with the bird's green colouring, renders it almost invisible to many predators, especially humans, who used to hunt the kakapo for food.
Why do we need to conserve the kakapo?
ways to help conserve the kakapo
How does Senora Rodriguez's parrot help Shirley?
How does Senora Rodriguez's parrot help Shirley.
Are kakapo endangered because they are flightless?
The kakapo, also called the owl parrot, is a nocturnal parrot of New Zealand. It is critically endangered, and extinct on the mainland. The fact that it is the world's only flightless parrot does not help its situation, but being endangered is the result of a combination of factors. The biggest factor in the kakapo's endangerment has been human settlement in New Zealand. Prior to European settlement, there were no native predators of the kakapo in New Zealand. They are particularly subject to predation by stoats and feral cats, both of which have been introduced. Feral cats have virtually decimated the poulation on Stewart Island. Also, when the Polynesians arrived, the kiore, or Polynesian rat, was introduced into the kakapo's habitat, whereupon they began to feast on the kakapo's eggs. The Polynesians themselves raided nests and ate eggs, and they used the kakapo as a source of food for the new human population as, being flightless, they were easy to catch. The feathers from the kakapos were also valued. With the arrival of new people from Europe, the situation became worse with more rats, imported cats and stoats, and more hunting by the new residents of the birds for food. To add to the difficulties, the Kakapo have long breeding cycles, of approximately 3 years, so population growth is not sufficient to replace the birds lost to predation by other species. As well the berries they eat during breeding seasons apparently suffered a down turn too, and the quantity of berries became insufficient to sustain the breeding populations as needed. Introduced plant species took over the kakapo's habitat, pushing out the kakapo's native foods. Land clearing by Europeans exacerbated the situation. The current recovery programme involves relocation of the kakapo to protected islands. Since the implementation of the Kakapo Recovery Plan which was established in 1989, numbers have gradually increased, but the bird is still critically endangered. They are currently critically endangered, with a population that fluctuates between 120 and 131, but this is a vast improvement on the 51 known birds in 1995. Detailed information can be found at the related link below.
How can we help the kakapo?
by not destroying there habitats.not hunting them.do not take there feathers.also do not kill them.help them.
Does the a parrots beak help it survive?
how can we help for parrot to survive
What is the purpose of professional organizations?
nursing organizations help the nurses
What is being done to protect the kakapo from becoming endangered?
Monday, 31 March 2008 12:00 in Media Releases Kakapo chicks hatch on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island The eagerly-awaited arrival of some of New Zealand's most precious babies has started, with the hatching of five kakapo chicks in the last two weeks. As of Saturday 29th March, the world's population of kakapo has been boosted from 86 to 91 with another two eggs due to hatch over the coming fortnight. Thereis only 86 or 91 left in the whole world!!!!
Are there people or organizations who offer to help?
Help with what?
How has human beings threatened the kakapo?
they have been killed off by by humans and the animals to dramatic numbers then the animals on the main land have driven them to off shore islands like stewart island ,codfish island and anchor island and with there slow reproduction rate they will take a while for their numbers to increase.
Can flowerhorn help to hatch the eggs of parrot fish?
Yes
